When We Fall

Chapter 4

                                

                                                                          A p r i l

Leigh sat at her desk, staring up at the teacher's clean handwriting on the overused chalkboard. His letters were clean and magnificent, and looked exactly like the print on books. I wish I had handwriting like that, Leigh thought, then looking down at her slate with was covered in messy letters she had written. She sighed to herself. One of her very few insecurities was her handwriting. One time at her second year in school, a girl asked to view what she had written and when Leigh said no, the girl tried to snatch her slate and Leigh rapidly wiped off all of her work off with her sleeve, getting her in trouble with Mr. Handon. 

I hate being insecure about things, it changes how you act around people. 

The thought of insecurity, amusingly, brought the thought of Kitty to her mind. She looked next to her where Lindy was sitting, in Kitty's usual spot. Her sister stayed home that day, for reasons unmentioned, and Leigh had to walk there by herself. She was very curious the entire day about why she hadn't come to school, but all she knew was her mother said: "she has things to discuss today". Though Leigh pried and pressed her parents for what seemed like forever that morning, they wouldn't budge. It really was a discomforting mystery. At first, she thought Kitty might have caught her father's cough, but she had been silent all day. The idea that there was something big Leigh wasn't being let in on made her ache with anguish. She hated when people kept secrets from her. 

"That concludes today's lessons, children." Mr. Handon said loudly, and Leigh snapped back to reality. She had completely forgotten he was teaching and had missed everything he had said the past five minutes. She didn't bother to say anything, though, because it seemed no one noticed. The students started collecting their things around her. "And today we need Leigh Marlow and Johnathon Hamby helping with cleanup," He read their names off the little calendar he kept to track who helped after school each day. Leigh grumbled quietly, but Johnathon was a quite enthusiastic boy who rather enjoyed helping after school. 

"Wonderful! I had to see friends afterward but they can wait! Anything for you Mr. Handon." He cheered, flashing a smile to everyone around him. Mr. Handom nodded approvingly to him, but Leigh watched him in pain. Suck up, she thought. 

"I thought I helped next week, sir?" She asked, though she really was complaining. Mr. Handon didn't even bother to check the calendar again, and instead gave her a dismissive hand. 

"No, no, it's surely today. Go fetch the broom." He ordered. Leigh sighed longingly, having a great urge to run home and see what was wrong with Kitty, but she knew that wouldn't happen without consequences. She grabbed the broom from the coatroom while the other students fled outside. She began to sweep while watching the other children leap around in freedom. How I wish I could change places with them. 

Nevertheless, Leigh finished sweeping the schoolhouse while Johnathon Hamby cleaned the fireplace and chalkboard. Mr. Handon left halfway through the cleanup, leaving just the two of them inside the schoolhouse. Once she was done and the floor was clear of dirt, Leigh put the broom back and grabbed her books. 

"Goodbye, Leigh, see you tomorrow!" The always-excited voice of Johnathon called behind her as she left. Leigh turned and waved, though she really didn't care who or who not she saw the next day. 

"Goodbye." She said while grabbing her hat from the coatroom. As she adjusted it on her head she left the schoolhouse. Suddenly, a familiar voice behind her gave her a spook:

"Hey, Leigh."

She jumped and turned around, to see a very surprised Henry Halred. 
"What in the world, Henry Halred?" She cried, refixing the hat which she hadn't quite finished putting on when she got scared. Henry put up arms of surrender. He laughed through his nose as he approached her.